The Houston Astros can only hope life without Yordan Alvarez goes as well on Day 2 as it did on Day 1 when they seek a second consecutive victory over the visiting Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

Having already missed 100 games with a fractured right hand, Alvarez slipped on home plate while scoring from first base on a first-inning infield single that led to a throwing error by Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter on Monday.

Alvarez limped noticeably to the dugout, had a hard time negotiating the downhill steps, then went to the clubhouse rather than back to left field when the Astros took the field for the second inning.

After Houston completed a 6-3 win, Alvarez waved off reporters en route to the exit, using crutches with his left foot in a boot. The Astros later announced he would have an MRI exam on Tuesday.

That not only puts into question his availability for the rest of the series — the three-game set wraps up Wednesday — but also potentially the three-game showdown with the Seattle Mariners beginning Friday in Houston.

The Astros (82-69) will take the field Tuesday a half-game behind the first-place Mariners (82-68) in the American League West. Houston in turn holds a three-game edge on the Rangers (79-72) in a multi-team duel for the final AL wild card.

The Astros proceeded seamlessly after Alvarez’s departure, moving Jesus Sanchez from right field to left field and inserting Zach Cole into right.

Both did a nice Alvarez impersonation. Cole contributed a two-run homer and an RBI single to the win, while Sanchez doubled, scored a run and gunned down Johah Heim at the plate trying to score the tying run in the seventh inning.

“That’s good managing there, putting that young man (Cole) in the lineup,” Astros manager Joe Espada said with a laugh at his postgame press conference. “Jesus Christ. He’s playing (Tuesday).”

If Sanchez returns to Alvarez’s outfield position in the Tuesday rematch, he would face a familiar rival in Texas’ Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.21 ERA). The former National Leaguers have dueled 14 times, with Sanchez going just 2-for-12 with a home run.

Victor Caratini is 4-for-12 vs. Kelly, while Cole, who has played just four big-league games, has never seen the veteran right-hander.

Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in July, Kelly has gone 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in eight starts since joining Texas. The Rangers won the past four games he started, including a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the Astros on Sept. 5, when Kelly allowed just one run in seven innings.

The 36-year-old has gone 0-1 despite a 0.93 ERA in three career starts against the Astros.

Another pitcher with lifetime success against his Tuesday opponent is Astros right-hander Cristian Javier (1-3, 4.78 ERA). He is 6-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 15 games, including 11 starts, vs. the Rangers.

The 28-year-old will be making just his seventh start of the season after missing more than a year due to Tommy John surgery. In his past two outings, he allowed four runs each time in losses to the New York Yankees on Sept. 4, when he was done after 4 1/3 innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday, when he lasted six innings.

With both teams missing key players at the worst possible time, including Texas’ middle-infield combination of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy just hopes his team has the better depth.

“It’s important that everybody does something to help out,” he said. “Not just one or two guys. When you’re missing your core players, you’re looking for something to carry the weight. The young guys, the veterans … everybody is doing something to help win.”

–Field Level Media

After his team endured a three-game sweep against the Athletics over the weekend, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona shuffled his batting order against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

He moved slumping shortstop Elly De La Cruz out of his usual No. 3 slot for the first time this season. De La Cruz walked twice and hit a double while batting seventh as the Reds rolled to an 11-6 victory on Monday.

The Reds will try to sustain that offense Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game set.

Cincinnati (75-75) and the San Francisco Giants (75-75) are both two games back of the New York Mets in the race for the final National League wild-card slot. Meanwhile, the Cardinals (73-78) have fallen 4 1/2 games back thanks to losing six of seven games.

De La Cruz has not hit a homer since July 31, and that was his lone long ball in his past 71 games dating back to June 24.

Francona sought to take pressure off De La Cruz while giving his offense a new look.

“I value consistency so much,” the manager said. “Sometimes, I think that can turn into stubbornness. I believe in Elly so much, and I don’t want people pointing fingers at him because we’re going to do things as a ballclub — good things and when they don’t go so well.

“But I do think this can take a little bit of the glare off of him.”

The Reds will give the ball on Tuesday to Andrew Abbott (9-6, 2.79 ERA). The left-hander held the San Diego Padres to one run on five hits in eight innings in his latest start, a 2-1 victory on Wednesday. He struck out six and walked two.

This season, Abbott is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts against the Cardinals. He struck out 13 in 16 innings during those contests, but he walked eight.

Abbott is 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in eight career starts against St. Louis.

He might have Spencer Steer in the lineup behind him on Tuesday. The first baseman could return to action after he was scratched on Monday because of neck spasms.

The Cardinals got Nolan Arenado back on Monday for the first time since July 30. He went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI after finally recovering from shoulder soreness.

“I loved it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “He did a nice job at third, he did that all year, then swung the bat well, drove in that run. I’m really happy to see him back in the lineup.”

On the flip side, the Cardinals lost first baseman Willson Contreras to right biceps tightness in the game.

“I think he’s going to have a couple days off to let that thing kind of die down a little bit,” Marmol said.

The Cardinals will start rookie Michael McGreevy (6-3, 4.44 ERA), who allowed just one run on five hits in six innings at Seattle in his latest start on Wednesday. He struck out four Mariners and walked none.

McGreevy had a similar outing against the Reds in his lone career start against them. He earned a 4-2 victory on Aug. 30 at Cincinnati while allowing one run on five hits in six innings. The 25-year-old right-hander walked two without recording a strikeout.

–Field Level Media

The New York Yankees might benefit from a full night’s rest heading into their next game.

New York will try to even a three-game series at one win apiece when it faces the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

The Yankees looked lifeless at the plate in the series opener on Monday, when they fell 7-0. Manager Aaron Boone’s team notched only two hits in the loss.

“It felt like we had some chances early and didn’t take advantage,” Boone said. “Just not a good night for us offensively.”

The defeat followed a long night for the Yankees, who played the Red Sox in prime time on Sunday in Boston before boarding a late flight to Minneapolis for a game less than 24 hours later.

With the loss, the Yankees (83-67) fell five games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays (88-62) in the American League East with 12 games remaining in the regular season.

New York remains on top of the AL wild-card standings. The Yankees have a one-game lead over Boston (82-68), which holds the second wild-card spot, and a 1 1/2-game lead over the Houston Astros (82-69).

The Twins (66-84) have no such hopes of reaching the postseason. They already have been eliminated from contention, but manager Rocco Baldelli still sees opportunities for bright spots in the season’s final 12 games.

One such positive happened Monday as Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings.

Baldelli believes the victory was important for his team’s confidence.

“Seeing the entire team step up, play aggressively, pull away — there were just real positive things going on all the way around,” Baldelli said. “That’s going to bring a smile to my face.”

Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler (3-3, 3.05 ERA) is scheduled to make the 12th start of his rookie campaign on Tuesday. The 24-year-old from Northeastern University has 63 strikeouts in 56 innings.

Schlittler is aiming to win back-to-back starts for the first time in his brief big-league career. He earned a victory on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, who managed only one run on five hits in six innings against him.

This will be Schlittler’s second career start against the Twins. He faced them at home Aug. 13, when he allowed one run on two hits in five innings but drew a no-decision.

Meanwhile, Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (4-5, 5.06 ERA) is set to make his 15th start. He is looking to bounce back from a rocky performance last week against the Los Angeles Angels, who battered him for five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Matthews, 25, has made one career start against the Yankees. He took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings in New York on Aug. 11.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge remains on 48 home runs and 102 RBIs for the season after going 0-for-1 and drawing three walks in the series opener. Judge has 12 home runs in 44 career games against the Twins.

–Field Level Media

The visiting Baltimore Orioles continue a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in a matchup of two last-place teams.

While the clubs may be far removed from playoff contention, both are viewing every remaining game as an opportunity to build momentum toward next season.

Baltimore (70-80) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory on Monday behind center fielder Colton Cowser, who hit a three-run blast for his second homer in as many games and 15th of the season.

Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday had two hits and is batting .373 (22-for-59) during a career-high 16-game on-base streak.

Baltimore reliever Dietrich Enns struck out four over three perfect innings for his second save. The left-hander has emerged as a key piece of the team’s bullpen since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 31.

“(When) we got the call that we got Dietrich Enns, I probably didn’t really get that excited at the time, but boy am I excited right now,” Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “He’s really good, and I think he’s definitely kind of forcing his way onto this thing going forward. He’s been tough.”

The Orioles have won 10 of their past 11 meetings against the White Sox (57-94), who struck out 15 times in the Monday defeat.

Chicago has lost four straight and will need to win six of its final 11 games to avoid a third straight 100-loss season.

With another last-place finish looming, White Sox manager Will Venable is focused on wrapping up the team’s encouraging second half on a high note.

“We talk about how meaningful these games are for us,” Venable said. “We know that we don’t have playoff implications, but we certainly have a lot of things internally that are important to us.”

Chicago will send Shane Smith (6-7, 3.78 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. He tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

The 25-year-old right-hander improved to 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 44 1/3 innings over eight starts since returning from an ankle injury last month.

“To start out so well and in the middle of the year (have to) find himself again, and to finish strong here, he’s somebody who finds ways to be effective even when he doesn’t have his best stuff,” Venable said.

Smith will be making his first career appearance against the Orioles.

Baltimore will counter with right-hander Dean Kremer (9-10, 4.43 ERA), who exited his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 5 after three hitless innings due to right forearm discomfort.

Kremer, 29, was cleared for the Tuesday start after completing a successful bullpen session on Friday.

“All the checkpoints have gone really well, so we have zero concern where he’s at medically,” Mansolino said. “If there were any concern at all, he wouldn’t be going out there.”

Mike Tauchman is 3-for-8 with a home run against Kremer, who is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in three career starts vs. the White Sox. He allowed one run over six innings in a 4-2 win over Chicago on May 31.

–Field Level Media

An intriguing pitching matchup highlights a late-season day-night doubleheader between the visiting Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

Atlanta (67-83) rolled to an 11-3 victory in the series opener on Monday.

The Tuesday nightcap will feature Atlanta veteran left-hander Chris Sale (5-5, 2.52 ERA), who will be opposed by 26-year-old MacKenzie Gore (5-14, 4.14).

Both left-handers have missed time this season due to injury.

Sale sustained a left rib cage fracture on June 18, 2025, during a diving play in his start against the New York Mets. He returned on Aug. 30 and is 0-1 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts since coming back. Last time out, he allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. He struck out nine and walked one.

The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner likely will finish with 21 starts this year, and he recently speculated how this season could have gone had he stayed healthy.

“I was just kind of sitting at my locker and wondering, ‘What if I didn’t get hurt? What if I was able to stay upright this whole year?'” he said.

Sale is 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Nationals. He has not faced them this season.

Gore landed on the injured list on Aug. 30 (retroactive to Aug. 27) because of left shoulder inflammation. He returned on Thursday and allowed two runs on four hits over five innings in a game the Nationals (62-88) lost 5-0 to the Miami Marlins. He fanned four, walked two and retired seven of the last eight batters he faced.

“I thought we were fine,” Gore said. “Able to get through five. We knew we were going to stay around 75 (pitches). Just move forward from this. I felt much better than the last time out.”

Gore continues to endure a lack of run support. He has received just 3.27 runs per nine innings this season, among the lowest figures in the major leagues.

Gore is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts vs. Atlanta. He has not faced them in 2025.

The Braves had not announced a starter for the day game. Right-hander Jake Irvin (8-12, 5.70 ERA) will start for the Nationals.

Irvin has not won since July 27. He has lost his past seven decisions, including each of his past five starts. On Wednesday, he allowed four runs (three earned) in five-plus innings during an 8-3 loss at Miami.

Irvin is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in six career starts against the Braves. He gave up three runs in six innings during a no-decision at Atlanta on May 12.

Matt Olson had four hits, including a three-run homer and two doubles, and knocked in four runs during the Braves’ win on Monday. Drake Baldwin added a homer and two singles, driving in four runs. Ronald Acuna Jr. also homered.

Daylen Lile, who homered and singled for Washington, has reached base in 15 consecutive games. He is hitting .427 (24-for-56) in that span. The Nationals saw their September record fall to 9-5.

“We didn’t hit today,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “They just hit better than us today. They were better. They beat us.”

The day game on Tuesday is the makeup of a game rained out on May 21.

–Field Level Media